A family has been left distraught and inconsolable after their much-loved dog was stolen from their family home.

Layla Scott, from Moss Side, Leyland, says that her Staffie cross, called Blue, was taken from their back garden in Cheetham Meadow over the weekend after letting him out for a runaround.

Avya (eight) with Blue, her Staffie cross which was stolen on Saturday (March 10).

Layla, who works for Age UK, said: “It happened on Saturday around 9pm after Blue was let out in the garden as per usual where we left him for 15 minutes.

“Upon calling him he didn’t return. We found that the iron gate had been unlocked and pushed wide open.”

Mum-of-three Leyla thinks he may have been taken for the intention of breeding or fighting – but at 10-years-old she fears for him as he is “so soft” and “scared of the Chihuahua next door”.

The theft follows a Post investigation last month revealing dog-napping in Lancashire has soared by almost 80 per cent in the last two years.

A photo of Blue from 2011 when he was just only three.

Last year 116 dogs were reported Stolen in the county – a 78 per cent increase from 2015/16.

Jayne Hayes from DogLost UK believes the figure is only the tip of the iceberg as it only includes owners who have been able to get a crime number.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers like Blue – who has a white patch on hs chest, a white paw, and skin tags on his left eye – are the most popular target for the thieves in the county, with the breed making up around one in five of all the dogs taken.

Since Saturday the family have spread posters around town with vets, kennels, and local CCTV checked to find information on his whereabouts, but to no avail.

Blue has a noticeable white patch on his chest as well as a white paw and skin tags on his left eye.

Leyla’s children, Mia, 17 Demi, 15 and Ayva, eight, are “once again...distraught and inconsolable” after Blue was previously taken away from the family seven years ago by police who were concerned it may be an illegal breed. Blue was later released unconditionally.

Demi and Avya have also made a short video, which has so been viewed more than 15,000 times, asking for any help to find Blue.

Leyla said: “It’s like he’s my fourth child and a brother to my daughters. He’s a proper family dog. It’s disgusting that people can do things like this.